Chapter Twenty
Aldrin
After two days of hiking and adventuring, we returned to the big tent and the trailer we’d stupidly rented for our mate.
She got her things out of it and put them in the big tent, cursing the trailer the whole time.
We let the camp host know, and she was delighted to see if someone on the wait list could use it.
Turned out, we’d only gotten our reservation because of a cancelation and nobody else being able to come at short notice, but she thought she knew of a newlywed couple who could.
Posy also grabbed the snacks. The woman loved her snacks. All kinds. She would be in heaven once we got her home. My friends hoarded all kinds of treats, healthy and otherwise.
Judah kissed her quickly. We had all bumped up our displays of affection, and our female didn’t complain or brush us aside. “When we get home, we’re going to get you your own tent and a better pack. I can’t wait to take you hiking.”
“I have to work and earn things on my own. And…I have to sleep in a tent all alone?” I loved how independent she was. That woman could take down the entire world if she had enough gumption.
“Not your own tent if you don’t want it. We have all kinds of plans, but maybe you could let us spoil you a little?” I asked.
Posy shook her head. “A little. But only if I’m allowed to spoil you three as well.”
Saber kissed her temple. “Baby, you spoil us just being alive and here with us but, yeah, feel free.”
My bear groaned inside me. Camping with Posy was great, but we needed to have the talk. We’d danced around it. Said things that hinted at forever.
My bear was done with that. He wanted to stop hinting and lay our hearts on the line. We wanted to take her home with us. Settle her into our den. Incorporate her into our lives. Where she belonged.
We rearranged the big tent, rolled up the partitions, and laid out all the sleeping bags in one big “bed,” instead of each of us having our own space.
Outside, Saber and Posy had gathered the firewood, the wood crackling and popping as it burned.
Tonight, we would talk to her about what happened next. Our future with her.
My stomach knotted up with nerves but after tonight, we no longer had the camping reservation. We needed to get back to our life and I didn’t want to return to that life without her in it.
We made some simple foil dinners with burger patties and veggies. She insisted on making all the packets, and they turned out ten times better than our versions. Posy was made for this life.
“Posy,” I started after we’d all finished eating. “Can we talk about what happens once we leave here?”
She paled. “I’d like that, yes.”
“This is all on you, female, your call.” Judah never minced words.
“Actually, it doesn’t depend on me. It depends on all four of us. You three are bears, and shifters feel things more intensely than I do. So tell me, bears, how do you feel about me? About us?”
Our female showed such vulnerability. No matter how strong she was, she could show us her softer side and trust us enough to be careful with it.
“First, don’t sell yourself or your feelings short.” Saber wrung his hands, a tell of nerves. “You are my mate, Posy. No question about it. And if you decide not to go home with us, I’ll be heartbroken, but I won’t give up on you.”
Damn.
Judah spoke next. “I believed in Fate but didn’t believe she had anyone for me. Maybe not any of us. My bear called you ours the moment you showed up at the airport and even before that. We want you to stay with us, if you’ll have us.”
I grabbed her hand and covered it with the other one. “Posy, you are our mate. We don’t want to live without you, but we will respect your decision. We can choose you all day but you have to choose us as well.”
She stared at the fire so long, I lost a bit of hope. All three of us head over heels in love with this woman, but that meant nothing if she didn’t feel the same.
“I always loved the idea of fated mates,” she said to the fire. “Meeting that one person, or people, who would make me a priority and love me no matter what. I thought Fate reserved those gifts for shifters only, but you three have proven me wrong.”
Hope throbbed in my chest again.
“I’m yours if you want me. I’m stubborn sometimes and determined and can be over-focused. And I isolate when I’m upset, but I do love the three of you. I want nothing more than to go wherever you go. Adventuring and living to the fullest.”
“We absolutely want you, Posy. All of us,” I said. We took turns hugging her and whispering to her.
Posy stood and ducked inside the tent.
“Where are you going?” Judah asked.
She kicked her shoes off and gripped the hem of her shirt. “What? You said I was your mate. But I don’t feel very mated or marked. I think we should do something about that, don’t you?” The tee hit the floor. “Well?”
Judah jumped up and almost sprinted to the tent. “Fuck, yes!”